Hundreds of animals rescued from ‘appalling’ conditions at California sanctuary

Authorities in California have rescued more than 400 animals, including horses, cats, dogs and goats, from a now shuttered sanctuary in San Diego county.

The San Diego Humane Society conducted the massive operation last week at Villa Chardonnay, a sprawling facility in Julian that had operated since 2003.

“This is one of the largest and most complex rescues our organization has ever undertaken,” Jace Huggins, the humane society’s vice president and chief of humane law enforcement, said in a statement. “We are currently managing a 40-acre property to stabilize and rescue hundreds of animals who have suffered from significant deficiencies in care and welfare.”

The sanctuary said on its website that it cared for more than 600 animals and was “dedicated to providing a forever home to animals who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused”. Last year, Villa Chardonnay filed for bankruptcy.

Conditions at the facility have long raised concern, according to the San Diego Humane Society, and animal welfare groups had repeatedly tried to investigate the property. The San Diego Humane Society worked with those groups to visit the sanctuary and see the conditions, according to a statement.

There was “veterinary evidence of severe neglect – including emaciation, untreated injuries and a lack of basic care”, and the humane society executed a search warrant on the property. The trustee overseeing the bankruptcy moved to legally transfer the animals to the humane society, the statement continued.

Animals rescued from the sanctuary included roughly 165 horses as well as several ponies, 30 dogs, and more than 300 cats as well as a number of chickens, duck, geese, goats and pigs.

“It truly is appalling,” said Dr Gary Weitzman, the president and CEO at San Diego Humane Society. “There is no question at all about the neglect, at the very least that occurred out there. I am very happy that these animals have a new chance at life.”

The majority of the animals that have been recovered suffered from neglect, the humane society’s chief medical officer, Dr Zarah Hedge, said. There was reportedly “widespread malnutrition” as well as open wounds, ringworm and giardia.

Some animals, including four horses, a pony and a bull, were euthanized to “prevent further suffering”, the humane society said. One kitten died while in the care of the humane society.

The sanctuary spokesperson, Heidi Redman, told City News Service that the facility was in bankruptcy but that the organization had hoped to turn around its financial situation. She denied the neglect and abuse allegations against the sanctuary and said the organization’s founder, Monika Kerber, and her partner were “devastated”.